Are They Abandoned Kittens? Before You Take Them in, Make Sure

If you see a litter of kittens in your neighborhood with no mother cat present, resist the temptation to immediately take them home. Mother cats often leave their kittens, sometimes for hours, to search for nourishment or hide. Many shelters advise waiting 10-12 hours for a mother cat to return before considering the kittens abandoned.

Preparing to Foster Newborn Kittens

The first step in terms of how to care for newborn kittens is to have proper supplies on hand for the transition to your home. Here are some things you’ll need for your new arrival (or arrivals):

Problems Associated With Newborn Kittens

By caring for abandoned kittens, you are filling the role of a mother cat. While the newborn phase lasts only a few weeks, during those weeks, motherhood is a 24-hour-a-day job. And your orphaned kittens will rely on you for everything they need.

What to Feed Newborn Kittens Without a Mother

Proper feeding of orphaned kittens, especially those without a mother to provide their foundational nutrition, is essential to their healthy development.

How to Feed Newborn Kittens

Without available mother’s milk, what do you feed newborn kittens? During the first three weeks, kittens receive all their nutrition through fluids, and providing enough of that hydration is essential.

Helping Newborn Kittens Go to the Bathroom

Unlike newborn babies, newborn kittens need a little help learning to move their bowels and empty their bladders. Mother cats help stimulate this evacuation by licking the genital area. As a surrogate mother cat, you will need to fill this role too, with the help of a warm, moist washcloth, cotton swab or cotton ball.

Caring for Newborn Kittens

Newborn kitten care week by week changes quickly:

Fostering a Kitten Can Make a Lifetime of Difference

As a kitten foster parent, you do much more than provide orphaned kitten care. By stepping into the role of a mother cat, you not only give a kitten a chance at life, but also the healthy start and socialization they need to live the best life possible.

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Caring for Your Newborn Foster Kitten: A Comprehensive Guide

Caring for Your Newborn Foster Kitten: A Comprehensive Guide

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